Collapsible tray



Jan. 26, 1965 R. w. MCCORMICK 3,167,211

COLLAPSIBLE TRAY Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheef 1 j "if. V V 'l INVENTOR.

ROBERT W MCCORMICK QTTOENEV R. W. M CORMICK COLLAFSIBLE TRAY Jan. 26, 1965 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT W MCCORMICK n-r-roe/ve V Jan. 26, 1965 R. w. M CORMICK 3,167,211

COLLAPSIBLE TRAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D60. 1'7, 1962 INVENTOR.

ROBERT W. MCCORMICK QTTOENEY jan, 26, 1965 w, MCCORMICK 3,167,211

COLLAPSIBLE. TRAY Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .lllmllll. N

INVENTOR RoBEre-r W- MCCORMICK m BY m aha/pm w QTTOENEY 1965 R. w. MCCORMICK COLLAPSIBLE TRAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1962 INVENTOR. ROBERT W. MCCORMICK QT'TO ENE Y 3,167,211 COLLAPSIBLE TRAY Robert W. McCormick, Rochester, Mich, assignor to Union Bag-Camp llaper Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Fiied Dec. 17, 1%2, Set. No. 245,158

. It) Ciaims. (Cl. 229-416) This invention relates to carriers and more particularly to an improved collapsible bottle carrier for handling a plurality of bottles or multiple units of bottle cartons. The bottle carrier embodied by the present invention is particularly adapted for handling, displaying and marketing multiple cartons of bottles or the like, and possesses characteristics particularly satisfying as regards strength, ease of storage, cost and attractiveness in a carrier intended to perform such functions.

The bottle carrier is characterized in that it comprises a lightweight, collapsible assembly including only a one piece folded paperboard body and wire rim means. The one piece folded paperboard body includes transverse parallel end and divider panels, and a bottom section joining the end and divider panels along carrier collapsing fold lines. The wire rim means is pivotally attached to each end and divider panel, and spans the panels in a paralell relationship with respect to the bottom section of the folded paperboard body, thereby maintaining the panels in fixed parallel relationship with respect to one aonther whether the carrier is erect or collapsed. A carrier handle formed integral with either end or divider panels serves also as a positive and direct carrier erecting means whereby force applied to the carrier handle to rotate the panel including the handle is transmitted directly to the rim means and in turn to all the other panels to which the rim is attached to cause similar rotation thereof.

Hitherto bottle carriers of the present collapsible type have been constructed and assembled from separate panel, bottom, end and handle sections, as for example in Glenny, US. Patent No. 2,551,262. Erection of this type of carrier is not possible by merely rotating the handle of the carrier and the present combination of structural elements provides this handle erecting func tion based upon the novel structural elements.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

}, For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one erected form of carrier embodied by the present invent-ion;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank sheet used in forming the body of the carrier embodiment of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the carrier embodiment of FIGURE 1 in collapsed condition;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank sheet used to form the body of the carrier embodiment of FIGURE 6;

s FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another erected form of carrier embodied by the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another erected form of carrier embodied byv the present invention;

United States Patent() Si 637,21 l Patented Jan. 26, 1965 ice FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another erected form of carrier embodied by the present invent-ion;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another form of carrier embodied by the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a blank sheet used to form the body of the carrier of FIGURE 9;

FIGURES l1 and 12 are perspective views of modified forms of the carriers of FIGURES 6 and 7; and

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIGURE 11 with a grid to provide cells.

In FIGURE 1 the material of the blank sheet 11 is shown in folded condition to form body Iii and in such configuration comprises transverse, parallel end panels as, transverse divider panel 28 parallel to and disposed between the end panels 26, and bottom section 30, the bottom section in this instance comprising blank panel sections 32, also shown in FIGURE 3. The fold lines 15 at the intersection of end panels 26 and panels 32 comprising bottom section 3%, and the divider panel fold lines 13 at the intersection of divider panel 28 and panel bottom section 3b comprise carrier collapsing fold lines for enabling the erected carrier as shown in FIGURE 1 to be collapsed to the position shown in FIGURE 4 by allowing the end and divider panels 26 and 28 to be rotated relative to the bottom section 30 about said fold lines 15 and 12-3 respectively, in a manner to be more fully described below. It will be noted that the end and divider panels 26, 28 of body 10 comprise double layers of blank body material since they are formed by folding blank panel sections 26, 28' of sheet 11 back upon themselves along fold lines It and 19, respectively. The panel sections 26 and 28' forming the end and divider panels as and 28 are secured together by suitable means such as mechanical fasteners 34, by adhesive bonding (not shown), or some other suitable means. In bonding the panel sections or layers as comprising end panels 26 along fold lines 14, which, as can be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2, form the free upper edge portions of end panels 26, apertures 36 are formed which extend transversely along the upper edges of panels 26. In securing the panel section 26 together by mechanical fasteners or other means, care must be taken that the apertures 36 are not closed by bonding the panel sections 26' complete.y together up to fold line 14. In securing together the panel sections or layers 28' comprising the divider panel 23, an aperture 38 is termed transversely of said divider panel by leaving an area of each panel section 28' unsecured to the other. The aperture 38, as will be apparent from FIGURE 2, lies in the same horizontal plane a apertures 36 in end panels 26 of the folded blank Iii.

The divider panel 28 in the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 includes a free upper area 40 which extends above the plane of the apertures 36, 33, and a handle aperture 41 extending through both blank layers of the divider panel 28 is formed in this area by the juxtaposition of apertures 22 provided on either side of fold line 19 of blank sheet 11, as seen in FIGURE 3. The apertures 36 and 38 in panels 26 and 28 comprise rim receiving apertures which receive certain portions of rim 12 in the manner to be described below.

As seen best in FIGURES l and 2, the carrier embodied by the present invention includes a wire rim means 12 which is adapted to reinforce the carrier structure, and maintain the end panels 26 and divider panel 28 in parallel relationship at all times, whether the carrier is erect or collapsed. This is accomplished by pivotally attaching the wire rim means 12, which in this embodiment is a continuous length of longitudinally rigid wire or rod, to the end and divider panels 26 and 28 in such a mannerthat the wire rim-to-panel' joint at each end and divider.

' 3 I 7 panel permits relative rotation between the rim andpanel about a transverse axis parallel to the bottom panel 30, while non-rotational relative movement between each of the panels and rim is restrained. That is, the manner of attachment of the rim 12 with the folded end and divider panels 26 and 28 oftthe body issuch that each panel 26, 28 may be rotated with respect to the bottom panel 30 .from its erect position asv shown in FIGURE 1 to its collapsed position as shown in FIGURE 4 about its collapsing fold line, the collapsing fold line for panelsp26 being fold lines 15, the collapsing fold line for divider maintaining the carrier in erect position, and transporting of the carrier all may be readily accomplished by means of the handle provided in the foldedend or divider panels of thetcarrier. V J

' Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, positive erection, collapsing and transportation of the carrier shown allmay be accomplished by grasping dipanel 28 comprising fold lines 18, without mechanical interference with such rotation being caused by the'rim member 12. a At the same time, the rim 12, being attached a to the erected end anddivider panels 26, 28 at points lying in the same horizontal plane parallel to butspaced r from the bottompanel 30 as seen clearly inFIGURE 2, maintains the end and divider panels in parallel relationship throughout their rotational displacement about their collapsing fold lines 15 and 18, respectively.

Considering in detail the structural relationship between the assembled rim 12 and body 10 of the carrier embodied by FIGURES l, 2 and4, such structure being essentially typical of all embodiments of the present invention illustrated by way of example, the rim 12 as seen in FIGURE 1 includes transverse portions 45 which extend transversely through the apertures 36 in end panels 26, and a transvider panel 28 through aperture 41 in body 10 formed by apertures 22 in blank sheet 11 as shown in FIGURE 3,

and exerting necessary rotational forces, upon the panel'28; V i a In FIGURE 6 there is shown anothertcarrier embodiment of the present invention. In this instance the onepiece carrier body-10 is formed from a blank sheet '11 cut and sc-oredasshown in FIGURES. It will be readily apparent that in all essentials theblank sheet of FIGURE 5 is'substantially the same as the blank of FIGURE 3 used in forming the carnier of the FIGURE 1 embodiment except that the blank 11'.is cut and scored ,to allow its -being folded so as to form end panelsf26 with free upper areas. 40' having handle apertures 41' therein in the same manner as, the divider panel 28 of the FIGUREl carrier embodiment.

' themechanical fasteners 34 securing the body material verse portion 46 which extends through" aperture 38'provided in divider panel 28." Sincethe apertures 36 and 38 are disposed'in the samehorizontal plane when the carrier is in erect position as seen in FIGURE 2, the rim 12 forms a rigid interconnection between the folded end and divider panels 26, 28 in a plane horizontalto but spaced 7 from the bottom panel 30. As stated above, the aper tures 36 each are formed specifically in this instance to freely rece'ive the rim portions 45, and, when so assembled, compr'ise pivotal rim-to-panel joints which allow pivotal motion between panels 26uand 28. At thesarne time, non-pivotal motion between the panels and rim in the plane of each of the panels is restrained by reason of interference between the rim portions 45, 46 and the body material layers 26, 28' comprising thepanels 26 and 28, the fastening means 34 joining the body material layers 26f,28' and, in the-case of the end panels 26,-the folded over body material at fold lines 14. In referring to nonrotational motion betweeneach of thepanels andv rim in theplane of each panel, it is, of course, to be understood that this refers to relative motion of the rim along the line of separation of the blanklayers 26', 28' in a vertical direction as the carrier is viewed in FIGURE 2. Relative motion of the rim 12 in a transverse sense relative to the panels'26 and 28 is always prevented by reason of the configuration of the rim 12 as'is'clearly apparent from FIGURE 1, for example. a v

, An important f eature of the carrier of the present jn vention lies in the provision of a folded end or divider panel having a free portion'or area extending above or beyond the rim-to-panel joint, that portion of the panel including an integral handle means; For example, as

seen in FIGURE 1, the jdivider panel 28, includes a free upper area 40 which extendsabove the joint between the rim 12 a'nd panel 28, the area 40 "having a handle aper1 'ture 41 extending t herethrou'gh The advantage of such a feature lies in the fact that the carrier of the invention may be readily raspedat the handle whilein the collapsed position, as seen in FIGURE 4, for. example, and erected layers 26' comprising the endpanels 26 restrain non-rotational relative motion between the end panels and rim means'12 in the plane of panels 26, while in the caseof the divider panel 28, non-rotational relative motion between the divider panel 28 and rim 12. in'the plane of panel 28 is restrained on one side by the body material folded, over upon itself along foldflline 19, and on'the other side :by the mechanical fasteners securing together 'the body material'layers 28" comprising panel 28.

FIGURES? and 8 show-still different embodiments of the present carrier incorporating features included-in the vider panels 28fwill comprisedoublelayers of body material. a a

In FIGURE 7 the carrier shown includes two divider panels and a pair of end panels, all similar in construction to the single divider and double end panels, respectively,

' of the'carrier'shown in FIGURE 6 In FIGURE 8 the carrier shown includesthree divider panels and a pair of end panels, the outer two divider panels and the end panels being similar in construction to the divider and end panels 26, 28 shown in FIGURE 1, the center divider panel being similar in'construction to'the divider panel 28showninFIGURE 6.

I V In FIGURES 9 and 10 there is respectively shown another form of carrier embodied by, the present invention and the form of blank sheet use'din constructing the can rier'formgillustrated. In the FIGURE 9' embodiment the body blank sheet"11-comprising the body 10 of the carrier is foldedto provide end and divider panels .26 and-28 of double body material layers and furthermore, al-bottom 47 comprisingdouble layers of body blank materiaL the upper layer 30 being the fullequivalentof the bottom section 30 as shown in FIGURE l, the lower layer 30 instantly by simply rotating the panel that isgrasped to,

an uprightposition. The rotation of the single panel to an erectposition simultaneously causes erection of all panels attached to the rim bymeansof-the rim intercom-,7 nection between end and divider panels. While the panel; is still grasped and thereby held in the erected position with one hand, the otherhand is free to load the carrier, after which it may be transported by the same handle.

Positive control of erection andcollapsing of the carrier,

comprising a center 7 panel 48 of blank sheet 11 as shown in FIGURE 10.v

FIGURES 1 1, 12 ,and 13 show modifications ofthe carriers illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. In each case the free upper areas 40-',* which extend above'ithe joint between ;the' rimr12 and panel 26, have been omitted and the handle1ap'ertures i41' havebeen placed in the panels '26; Such construction would require' less stockfforthe blank and'would be'cheaper to make. FIGURE 13 shows how a grid of wire or similar material can betsecuredtto the top of the carrier of FIGURE I I to provide 24 cells a I In the carrier embodiment of FIGURE 6,-

:3 for bottles. In like manner any number of cells can be formed for these carriers.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying rawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following Claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a one-piece paperboard body including a pair of parallel folded end panels, at least one transverse folded divider panel between said end panels, said divider panel comprising double layers of body material secured together by suitable means, and a bottom section joining the end and divider panels along carrier collapsing fold lines; and wire rim means pivotally attached to and forming a rigid interconnection between said end and divider panels of said body in a plane parallel to but spaced apart from said bottom section, the wire rim-to-panel joints at each of said end and divider panels coacting to prevent substantial nonrotational relative movement between the said wire rim means and the end and divider panel structure in the plane of each of said end and divider panels, whereby the carrier may be erected or collapsed relative to the said bottom section by rotating the said end and divider panels about their collapsing fold lines, the same wire rim means maintaining the said end and divider panels of said body in parallel relationship.

2. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1, wherein said end panels comprise double layers of body material, and said wire rim means includes transverse portions extending between the body material layers comprising each of said end and divider panels to form each rim-to-panel attachment.

3. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein the double layers of body material comprising the divider panel are fastened together by a plurality of mechanical fasteners, and said rim means includes a transverse portion extending between the body material layers comprising the said divider panel, said portion being restrained from substantial non-rotational movement relative to said divider panel in at least one direction in the plane of said divider panel by means of said mechanical fasteners.

4. A collapsible bottle carrier comprising a one-piece paperboard body including a pair of transverse, parallel folded end panels, a folded divider panel parallel to and between said end panels, and a bottom section joining said end and divider panels along carrier collapsing fold lines, each of said end and divider panels comprising double layers of body material fastened together by suitable mechanical fastener means; and continuous wire rim means pivotally attached to and forming a rigid interconnection between said end and divider panels of said body in a plane parallel to but spaced apart from said bottom section, said rim means including transverse portions extending between the said body material layers comprising each of said end and divider panels to form each rim-to-panel attachment, said rim portions being restrained by suitable means from non-rotational movement relative to and in the plane of each of said end and divider panels, whereby the carrier may be erected or collapsed relative to the said bottom section by rotating the end and divider panels about their collapsing fold lines, the said wire rim means maintaining the said end and divider panels in parallel relationship.

5 The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 4 wherein the said end panels each include an upper free edge portion comprising body material folded back upon itself, and a rim receiving aperture extending transversely between the body material layers comprising the said end panels adjacent said edge portion, the portion of said wire rim means passing between the body material layers comprising each end panel extending through said aperture in each of said end panels and being restrained against nonrotational movement relative to and in the plane of each of said end panels on one side by the said body material folded upon itself and on another side by the said mechanical fasteners joining together the body material layers comprising the said end panels, and the portion of said wire rim means passing between the said body material layers comprising the divider panel being restrained against lateral movement relative to and in the plane of said divider panels by the said mechanical fastener means joining the body material layers of said divider panel together.

6. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein the said end and divider panels comprise double layers of body material fastened together by the plurality of mechanical fasteners, and said rim means includes transverse portions passing between the body material layers comprising each of said end and divider panels to form each rim-to-panel attachment, each of said divider panels including an upper free edge portion comprising body material folded back upon itself, and a wire rim receiving aperture extending transversely between the body material layers comprising each of said divider panels, the portion of the said wire rim means passing between the body material layers comprising each of said divider panels extending through said aperture in each of said divider panels and being restrained against substantial non-rotational movement relative to and in the plane of each of said divider panels on one side by the said body material folded back upon itself, and on the other side by the said mechanical fastening means joining together the double body material layers comprising each or" said divider panels, and the portion of said wire rim means passing between the body material layers comprising the said end panels being substantially restrained against non-rotational movement relative to and in the plane of each of said end panels by the said mechanical fastener means joining the body material layers of said end panels together.

7. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein a layer of body material underlies the said bottom section of said body.

8. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 4, wherein said divider panel is provided with a hand holding aperture therein which extends above the point of attachment of said wire rim means to said divider panel.

9. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein said end panels each extend above the point of attachment of said wire rim means to each of said panels to form hand holding means.

10. The collapsible bottle carrier of claim 1 wherein three spaced parallel divider panels are included, each of the outermost two of said divider panels having a hand holding extension above the point of attachment of said wire rim means to each of said two divider panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,183 5/39 Weltmer.

2,249,189 7/41 Thimm 220-6 2,333,954 11/43 Rocker et a1 220-101 2,565,810 8/51 Guyer 229-52 2,689,061 9/54 Gray 229-28 2,778,560 1/57 Pfeifier 229-41 2,866,585 12/58 Alexander 229-42 X FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner,

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

4. A COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE PAPERBOARD BODY INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE, PARALLEL FOLDED END PANELS, A FOLDED DIVIDER PANEL PARALLEL TO AND BETWEEN SAID END PANELS, AND A BOTTOM SECTION JOINING SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS ALONG CARRIER COLLAPSING FOLD LINES, EACH OF SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS COMPRISING DOUBLE LAYERS OF BODY MATERIAL FASTENED TOGETHER BY SUITABLE MECHANICAL FASATENER MEANS; AND CONTINUOUS WIRE RIM MEANS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO AND FORMING A RIGID INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS OF SAID BODY IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO BUT SPACED APART FROM SAID BOTTOM SECTION, SAID RIM MEANS INCLUDING TRANSVERSE PORTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SAID BODY MATERIAL LAYERS COMPRISING EACH OF SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS TO FORM EACH RIM-TO-PANEL ATTACHMENT, SAID RIM PORTIONS BEING RESTRAINED BY SUITABLE MEANS FROM NON-ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO AND IN THE PLANE OF EACH OF SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS, WHEREBY THE CARRIER MAY BE ERECTED OR COLLAPOSED RELATIVE TO THE SAID BOTTOM SECTION BY ROTATING THE END AND DIVIDER PANELS ABOUT THEIR COLLAPSING FOLD LINES, THE SAID WIRE RIM MEANS MAINTAINING THE SAID END AND DIVIDER PANELS IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP. 